When Cole and McFeely appear in Star City, Dixon takes them under his wing and does his best to make them realize that he has the entire situation under control, but instead creates the exact opposite impression. ![]() The call instantly transforms Dixon into the happiest man in town because he is finally getting an opportunity to deal with a real crime and prove that he is just as good as his colleagues from the big city. However, a video camera allows the local authorities to figure out their plan, and shortly after detectives Dud Cole (Jim Metzler) and John McFeely (Earl Billings) phone Chief of Police Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon (Bill Paxton) to let him know that they will need his assistance to capture the thieves. In Los Angeles, a trio of thieves - Pluto (Michael Beach), Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton), and his girlfriend Fantasia (Cynda Williams) - execute a local drug dealer and his visiting friends, steal a large load of cocaine and a bag of money from his vault, and decide to head toward Star City, Arkansas. The violence in it hits you pretty hard as well because it comes from a place that is very familiar and authentic. One False Move has a detectable sense of humor too, but it is something of an embellishment that complements its rough personality, which is shaped by its desire to be seen as realistic. Also, it is a pretty violent film, but not one that makes you feel uncomfortable. Indeed, Blood Simple has a very wicked sense of humor, and even though it is not a show-off piece it takes great pride in its visual appearance. However, these films work as well as they do for two drastically different reasons. It has obvious noirish qualities and seems perfectly happy to promote them, but it is a lot easier to profile simply as a stylish piece of Americana. One False Move is a lot like Blood Simple. So, even though nowadays many of these films are rightfully regarded as great cult films, when they were first released too many of them struggled mightily to just stay alive. ![]() It needed support too, and it took some time for casual viewers to discover it. You may have forgotten, or simply do not know, but Joel and Ethan Coen's Blood Simple, which came out a little earlier, wasn't exactly an instant mainstream hit either. For example, John Dahl's directorial debut, Kill Me Again, popped up on the radar of a lot of casual viewers only after he made The Last Seduction. Sound strange? Well, it shouldn't because this is a fate that is shared by a lot of other independent American films from the early '90s. ![]() According to Franklin, it was because of the enormous support of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert that One False Move received plenty of theatrical exposure and then went on to acquire something of a cult status. It would have been a crime if Carl Franklin's One False Move had disappeared into oblivion, which apparently was a very real possibility. ![]() In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thronton archival audio commentary by Carl Franklin and newly restored vintage trailer for the film. Svet Atanasov, June 9, 2023Ĭarl Franklin's "One False Move" (1992) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |